This is the best documentary I've seen in years. It'll give you a whole new level of respect and awe for our brothers and sisters in the military. The adventure keeps you on the edge of your seat, and the footage is absolutely spectacular. This isn't a typical documentary film.

Why would you go into the military if you can't live as a civilian. I know it's not popular or pc to criticize veterans but all I saw in this documentary was someone complaining as in, I was special, now they discarded me and I'm broken and unless we get help, we're going to commit suicide. That's a fairly immature attitude and it doesn't matter if you're in the military or not because you have more serious issues that need to be addressed. Issues that would come up if you went in the military or not. Nobody forces you to become a rescue swimmer and if, for whatever reason, you have to stop why do you need special care. You weren't guaranteed a lifetime path; nobody is. I don't believe this has anything to do with vets or their issues but more about politicking and eliciting support on an issue that most people address mostly on emotion. Just because you were a veteran doesn't mean you should have lifetime special care. What if you work say delivering healthcare in dangerous 3rd world countries. Doesn't make you a military veteran. If you stop doing that work, are you subject to ptsd and possible severe depression, sure. Doesn't make you special though. Doesn't mean I care if you sail to cape horn or not. That's your personal adventure which I care very little about and ironically people who do that who are not in the military can come out of with ptsd. Consider donald crowhurst. I have more sympathy for someone like that. Not a veteran but driven to try sailing solo around the world. Was it because he was on a cause for veterans that we should all support, no. It's interesting that the main character in this says at the end that he bought an apt with his gi bill. Military veterans in the US are substantially compensated compared to the people that they are at war with. The discrepancy is absurd and is it really worth it because after afghaistan, the longest war in US history, the country is turned over to the people we were at war with as if nothing really changed. If we concentrated on not wasting lives and how much war was costing in many aspects maybe we would save even more lives. I could support that, not some opportunist waving the flag for his own causes.

It's about an important and very real problem, and I don't mean in any way dimish that, but the documentary itself is just so incredibly American. For my taste, it's just to dramatized - to the point of becoming kind of tacky. The obvious "twists", the cello playing in the background, the "love for 'murica and my bro's serving in our beloved armed forces", the raising of the American flag in honor of "their extended family", the attempt to portrait it as a heros' journey (complete with reference to The Odyssey)... I'm sorry, but it just makes me not taking it seriously.

Also the fact that the opening obviously is designed to make you think the main guy died during the trip, later revealing he in fact not only lives ("surprise"), but made the whole thing into a business venture... it's just not for me.